Bhutan

.bt

9,180 (2007)

30,000 (2006)

AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006)

general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003 international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 (2005)

31,500 (2006)

82,100 (2006)

1 (2006)

rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

revenues: $272 million expenditures: $350 million note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005)

ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

$593 million (2004)

$90.02 million; note - substantial aid from India (2005)

The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

380 million kWh (2005)

1.5 billion kWh (2005)

20 million kWh (2005)

2 billion kWh (2005)

ngultrum per US dollar - 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002) note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee

$186 million f.o.b. (2005)

electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

India 54.5%, Hong Kong 34.6%, Bangladesh 6.9% (2006)

1 July - 30 June

$840.5 million (2005 est.)

$3.503 billion (2006 est.)

agriculture: 24.7% industry: 37.2% services: 38.1% (2005)

$1,400 (2003 est.)

8.8% (2005 est.)

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

$410 million c.i.f. (2005)

fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

India 76%, Japan 5.5%, Germany 3.2% (2006)

9.3% (1996 est.)

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

5.5% (2005 est.)

NA note: major shortage of skilled labor

agriculture: 63% industry: 6% services: 31% (2004 est.)

$NA

0 cu m (2005 est.)

0 cu m (2005 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

1,160 bbl/day (2004 est.)

NA bbl/day

NA bbl/day

0 bbl/day (2004)

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

31.7% (2003)

81.4% of GDP (2004)

2.5% (2004)

total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km

about half the size of Indiana

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

0 km (landlocked)

lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

27 30 N, 90 30 E

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

400 sq km (2003)

total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

arable land: 2.3% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 97.27% (2005)

Southern Asia, between China and India

Asia

none (landlocked)

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

none; note - a draft constitution was unveiled in March 2005 and is expected to be adopted following the election of a new National Assembly in 2008

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998 consulate(s) general: New York

chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him head of government: Prime Minister Kinzang DORJI (since August 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly is expected in 2008

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

absolute monarchy; special treaty relationship with India; note - transition to a constitutional monarchy is expected in 2008

8 August 1949 (from India)

AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 members elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; to serve three-year terms) elections: first election to be held in 2008; note - local elections last held August 2005 (next to be held in 2008) election results: NA

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

no legal parties

Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)

each family has one vote in village-level elections

In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named, but should occur in 2008. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of state before the democratic transition.

males age 18-49: 483,860 females age 18-49: 453,683 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49: 314,975 females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49: 23,939 females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)

Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, Royal Bhutan Police (2005)

1% (2005 est.)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

0-14 years: 38.6% (male 465,340/female 433,184) 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 688,428/female 647,134) 65 years and over: 4% (male 47,123/female 46,640) (2007 est.)

33.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

12.46 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

NA

less than 100 (1999 est.)

total: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 94.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 98.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

total population: 55.17 years male: 55.38 years female: 54.96 years (2007 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47% male: 60% female: 34% (2003 est.)

total: 20.5 years male: 20.4 years female: 20.7 years (2007 est.)

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

2,327,849 note: the Factbook population estimate is inconsistent with the 2005 Bhutan census results; both data are being reviewed and when completed, the results will be posted on The World Factbook Web site (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook) later this year (July 2007 est.)

2.082% (2007 est.)

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.074 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.064 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.066 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

4.67 children born/woman (2007 est.)

over 100,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps since 1990; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a boundary alignment to resolve substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lies in Bhutan's northwest

2 (2007)

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)